It’s common knowledge that most new technologies are
overhyped during early development. Technology advisory firm Gartner terms this
process the hype cycle and suggests
that there are five stages. Sure, it's made up and it's not really a cycle, but we'll go with it:

Technology trigger: Laboratory or theoretical
results suggest a promising new area known mostly to topical experts. Industry
and the press largely have not picked up the story yet

Peak of inflated expectations: Popular press
and industrial leaders learn of the technology and appreciate the
potential benefits but not the technical risks and limitations. Some early
demonstrators may be revealed as successes; the bugs may not be publicly known.

Trough of disillusionment: Commercial
implementations produce mixed results once customers put the technology into
use and expose flaws. Major early projects may fail.

Slope of enlightenment: Problems are fixed in
second-generation products following in-service experience. Industry begins to
change its ways of doing business to take full advantage of the new technology.

AIAA recently posted a live stream from the "Aircraft Electric Propulsion: Transforming Aviation" track at AIAA AVIATION 2017. I wasn't able to attend in person, so it was great to be able to review the panel discussion and questions.

The panel featured speakers from E/S Aero, the American Helicopter Society, NASA Glenn, CALSTART, and Zunum Aero.